Carthage, a Phoenician colony on the coast of North Africa,
became a maritime powerhouse in the fifth century BC and challenged
the Greek cities of Sicily and Southern Italy for control of the
western Mediterranean. Its founding legend centered on the person
of Dido, also called Alyssa, a princess of Tyre who migrated to
North Africa in the ninth century BC with a small band of followers
fleeing the wrath of her brother, King Pygmalion. Arriving on the
coastline, she bartered with a local chieftain for enough land to
be covered by a single oxhide, then cut the hide into fine strips
and long enough to encompass an entire mountain. Byrsa, or
"oxhide," thus became another name for for Carthage. By the late
fourth century BC, much of Sicily had fallen under Carthaginian
control and mints were established on the island to produce coins
used to pay the largely mercenary army. This rare and attractive
tetradrachm type depicts a beautiful female head which has been
variously identified as Dido and the goddess Tanit. The unusual
form of headdress, shaped like the Tyrian murex shell, argues
strongly for identifying its wearer as the legendary Tyrian
princess and founder of Carthage.

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I would like to take this opportunity to express dea's appreciation for the outstanding work and expertise your office provided in handling this sale. [ Entire Letter » ]
Thomas Dolan, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Agency,Denver, CO